Athlete of the Week: Corey Seiler

Oxford senior Corey Seiler had enough of the heart-breaking disappointments, and he made amends for those letdowns with a pair of top-tier golfing performances.

Last weekend at Cornell University, Seiler became the first Chenango County golfer to qualify for the Section IV state tournament team in 10 years placing fifth at the 55-person medalist tournament. Monday at the Section IV, Class C Team Tournament, Seiler was the top individual medalist – by two shots – shooting a 2-over-par 72 at Maple Hill Golf Club.

It was huge turnaround from his junior season when he missed the state team by just one stroke. As a sophomore, Seiler was also part of an Oxford basketball team that came up one point short in the sectional championship game.

“I might have played a tournament the week after the medalist tournament last year, but after that, I didn’t touch a club for a month,” Seiler said. “I had no desire to play golf.”

After a month away from the game, Seiler realized that if he continued to avoid golf, he would probably ruin his chance at redemption this season. “The path I was on last year, I wasn’t going to make it,” Seiler said. “Everyone around me knew I could do it, and my brother Scotty helped with with my swing. Him, and my family, helped me get back into it.”